SNP ‘deluded’ on independence says former party policy guru

ALEX Salmond’s former policy chief has launched a blistering attack on the SNP, denouncing its economic case for independence as “deluded”.

In an explosive article, Alex Bell claimed the Nationalists’ financial prospectus is dead

In an explosive article, Alex Bell claimed the Nationalists’ financial prospectus is dead, and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has been forced to abandon it all together.

Mr Bell, who spent two years helping shape her predecessor’s blueprint for separation, also claimed it was “morally dubious” of the SNP to promote an anti-austerity agenda without any credible alternative.

The former top adviser said the SNP was shifting its emphasis from arguing for independence to presenting itself simply as “Scotland’s party”.

Writing for the current affairs and culture website, Rattle.Scot, he said: “This shift in the party’s purpose from independence to being ‘Scotland’s party’ is often read as a simple tactic – the leadership are disguising their main aim, sovereignty, until a referendum victory looks likely.

“In fact, something else is at work. The SNP is shifting its emphasis because the leadership can find no way of achieving the core aim safely.”

Mr Bell was invited into government in 2010 but, as work got under way on the SNP’s White Paper, he left his post in the summer of 2013.

Yesterday he insisted the current “model of independence is broken beyond repair” and the SNP’s anti-austerity rhetoric was not matched by its policies.

“The idea that you could have a Scotland with high public spending, low taxes, a stable economy and reasonable government debt was wishful a year ago – now it is deluded,” he said.

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The economic health of a newly independent country, in the short to medium term, was the “only thing that mattered”, he added.

He said weaknesses in the SNP’s economic plans were “obscured by lots of noise”, and the SNP is “accomplished at shouting”.

“The party’s success has been built on hard work and spin,” Mr Bell wrote.

This shift in the party’s purpose from independence to being ‘Scotland’s party’ is often read as a simple tactic – the leadership are disguising their main aim, sovereignty, until a referendum victory looks likely

Alex Bell

“Behind the scenes Nicola Sturgeon isn’t gullible. It may work in public to rubbish claims by the Institute of Fiscal Studies that there is a gap between what Scots pay into government and what they get out in services, but only fools believe their own propaganda.

“The fact is a gap exists – Scotland does not earn enough to pay for its current level of spending. Once you accept that, you acknowledge that the SNP’s model is broken.”

Opposition MSPs seized on the remarks.

Scottish Tory deputy leader Jackson Carlaw said: “This is more confirmation that the SNP is merely a propaganda machine which hopes it can trick people into thinking it is a competent government.”

Scottish Labour’s public services spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said: “Alex Bell is absolutely right to say that it is wrong for the SNP to claim they oppose Tory cuts but offer no alternative.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, Willie Rennie, said: “Fools with no credible alternative is a powerful condemnation from someone who knows the SNP leadership.”

But an SNP spokesman said: “In the year since the referendum, every opinion poll conducted on the matter has shown an increase in support for independence, with some putting Yes ahead.

“This is due to the widespread anger that the UK Government has not delivered on their vow of more powers for Scotland – but also because the SNP continues to make the case for self-government for Scotland, and demonstrate a strong track record in office.”